Gap production in slide fastener chain



Dec. 28, 1965 p, sc No 3,225,430

GAP PRODUCTION IN SLIDE FASTENER CHAIN Filed July 29, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l F/G. 2 W *7?- L,

54 & INVENTOR ATTORNEYS De 1965 P. FASCIANO GAP PRODUCTION IN SLIDE FASTENER CHAIN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 29, 1964 INVENTOR PATA /UA FASC/fl/VO IB'Y M M ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,225,430 GAP PRODUCTION IN SLIDE FASTENER CHAIN Patrick Fasciano, Jersey City, N..I., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Scovill Manufacturing Company, Waterbury, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed July 29, 1964, Ser. No. 385,934 12 Claims. (Cl. 29-408) This invention relates to gap production in slide fastener chain and more particularly chain having its fastener elements in the form of continuous plastic coils.

In many cases a manufacturer using slide fasteners prefers to buy a continuous chain instead of severed fasteners and later severs the chain to provide fasteners of desired length. However, excess tape length is wanted at the ends, and this is provided by cutting away the interengaged elements at desired intervals to provide a gap. The chain then is severed across the gap, thus providing the individual fasteners with tape ends. This practice has been common for example in the trouser manufacturing industry, where fasteners of many different colors are needed to match fabric colors, with each color in many different lengths depending on the garment size.

The present invention concerns cutting away of elements for gap production in slide fastener chain of the type having tapes which carry along their adjacent longitudinal edges continuous coils attached by stitches to the tapes, the said coils having coupling parts which are interengaged. The coils are preferably made of a plastic material, most commonly nylon. One apparatus for this purpose is disclosed in my Patent Number 3,128,543, issued April 14, 1964, and entitled Production of Fastener- Element-Free Gaps in Slide Fastener Chain.

The convolutions of the coils are severed in a punch press by means of a thin blade-like punch corresponding to the desired gap length, but it is important that the punch does not cut the fabric tape. In my prior patent a plow is provided to deflect the adjacent edges of the tapes upward so that the punch can move therebetween. One object of the present invention is to improve the method of separating the adjacent edges of the tape. A further object is to improve the severing of the coils and to better ensure removal of the severed coils from the stitches holding the same to the tape.

To accomplish the foregoing general objects and other more specific objects which will hereinafter appear, my invention resides in the apparatus for gap production, and the elements thereof, and their relation one to another, as are hereinafter more particularly described in the following specification. The specification is accompanied by drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view showing a short piece of slide fastener chain with a gap formed therein;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary transverse section, drawn to greatly enlarged scale, showing the relation of the punch and die elements at the beginning of a gap producing operation;

FIG. 3 is a similar view showing the relation of the parts as the tapes are pulled apart at the gap;

FIG. 4 is a similar view showing the relation of the parts as the coils are severed;

FIG. 5 is a similar view showing the relation of the parts after the severed coils have been pushed downward to release the same from the stitches;

FIG. 6 is a section showing more of the die;

FIG. 7 is a partially sectionad front elevation of a die assembly embodying features of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is an end elevation of the same.

Referring to the drawing and more particularly to FIG. 1, the continuous slide fastener chain comprises collateral tapes 12 and 14 carrying along their adjacent longitudinal edges continuous plastic fastener elements, in this case nylon coiled filaments 16 and 18, these being attached to the tapes by longitudinal lines of stitches 2t) and 22. The stitches preferably interlace the coils on one side of the tapes, as shown in FIG. 1, and are covered on the other side by the adjacent tape edges 13.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary section through the fastener chain at a gap producing station in a punch press. Referring to that figure, the tapes 12 and 14 have interengaged nylon coils 16 and 18, these being secured by stitches 20 and 22, all as previously described.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the apparatus comprises means 24 and 26 to pull the tapes 12 and 14 apart without separating the interengaged nylon coils 16 and 18, and to thereby expose the interengaged parts of the coils between the spread-apart adjacent edges of the tapes. The apparatus further comprises means 28 and 30 to cut the coils without cutting the tapes for a distance corresponding to the desired length of gap. This severance of the coils is illustrated by the change from FIG. 3 to FIG. 4 of the drawing.

The apparatus includes means to move the severed coils in a direction away from the tapes, in this case downward, far enough to withdraw the coils from the stitches, as shown in FIG. 5. For this purpose, one side only of each coil is cut, preferably the bottom side of the coil as shown in FIG. 4.

Considering the arrangement of FIGS. 2-5 in somewhat greater detail, the upper die or punch holder (not shown) carries a blade-shaped punch 28, and a springloaded top pad 26 around the punch 28. The lower die or shoe (not shown) includes a vertically movable cutting anvil 30 dimensioned to receive the punch 28. A scrap pad 32 is located directly beneath the punch 28, and it too is vertically movable, but for only a very limited distance, in and relative to the cutting anvil 30. There are stationary tape supports or upright sides 24 located outside the coils 16, 18 of the fastener, and around the cutting anvil 30. These upright sides 24 are narrow in transverse horizontal direction. The top pad 26 of the upper die or punch holder has upright side walls 34 (FIG. 2) which fit outside the upright tape supports with a clearance less than the thickness of the tapes. The clearance is such that downward movement of the top pad 26 drags the tapes downwardly between the tape supports 24 and the top pad 26, as is shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. This pulls the inner edges of the tapes apart relative to the coils, as is shown by the change from FIG. 2 to FIG. 3 of the drawing. This is done without separating the interengaged coils, and presumably is accomplished by some yielding of the stitches. The outward spread at the inner edges exceeds the thickness of the punch blade 28, so that the punch (when operated as shown in FIG. 4) severs the coils without cutting the tapes.

The cutting anvil 30 preferably is resiliently yieldable, as is the scrap pad 32, but the spring for the cutting anvil is much heavier and stiffer than the springs supporting the scrap pad. In any event, continued bodily movement of the punch 28 is accompanied by downward movement of the cutting anvil 30 and scrap pad 32, moving in unison. These parts grip and push the severed coils 16 and 18 downward, and thereby pull the severed coils from the stitches.

The subsequent upward or return movement of the press serves to release the tapes and to raise the severed coils 16 and 18 to the starting position at the top of the die, so that when the chain is moved longitudinally to the location of the next desired gap, the scrap or severed loops are moved out of the die with the chain. The chain then has a gap, as shown at 13 in FIG. 1. This may have a length of say one to two inches. The chain is subsequently severed across the gap, as suggested by the dotted serrated line 15. Each fastener then has a tape end of say one-half inch long if the gap was one inch, or one inch long if the gap was two inches.

The relation of these parts to the yieldable spring supports is indicated in FIG. 6 of the drawing. This again shows punch 28 and its surrounding top pad 26, these being directly above cutting anvil 30 and scrap pad 32, the pad being supported in the cutting anvil by means of two small compression springs 36, one of which is visible in FIG. 6. The two springs 36 are housed in and are movable with the cutting anvil 30, which itself is a blade-like member extending downward through the die and resting on a cylindrical head or spring retainer 38 hearing on the upper end of a heavy compression spring, the retainer 38 and the spring being housed in a cylinder, not shown in FIG. 6, but shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in which spring 50 and retainer 38 are housed in cylinder 52.

The two spaced small springs 36 which support the scrap pad 30 are shown in FIG. 7, there being one spring at each end of the scrap pad. The pad and springs are carried in and are bodily movable with the cutting anvil 30. The downward movement of scrap pad 32 is positively limited when the lower edge of the scrap pad reaches the bottom of the slot in the cutting anvil in which the scrap pad is carried. This is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 7. In FIG. 6 the scrap pad is shown in raised position, and its downward movement is positively limited when the bottom edge 33 of scrap pad 32 reaches the bottom wall 31 of the slot in cutting anvil 30.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawing, the die may be mounted in a conventional punch press, usually a foot-treadle operated press of small size. The vertically reciprocable ram of the press is indicated at 40, it being vertically slidable in guides or ways 42. The upper die or punch holder 44 has the usual cylindrical shank 46 which is secured in the ram 40. The punch holder 44 carries the punch blade suggested at 28 in FIG. 8, this being mounted for positive movement. It is surrounded by the top pad 26, the latter being yieldable against a compression spring 48, part of which may be housed in the shank 46.

The fixed upright tape supports are indicated in FIG. 8 at 24. These provide a guide channel which receives the interengaged coils of the slide fastener chain. The cutting anvil is supported by the relatively heavy stiff compression spring 50 (FIG. 7) housed in a cylindrical chamber 52. The scrap pad 32 yields first, it being much more easily yieldable at the small compression springs 36. These parts are carried by the lower die or die shoe 54. This has the usual upright die posts 56 on which the upper die or punch holder 44 is vertically slidable.

It is believed that the construction and method of operation of my improved apparatus for producing a gap in slide fastener chain of the plastic coil type, as well as the advantages thereof, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. It will also be apparent that while I have shown and described the invention in a preferred form, changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as sought to be de fined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. The method of producing a gap in slide fastener chain having tapes carrying along their adjacent longitudinal edges continuous coils attached to the tapes, said coils having coupling parts which are interengaged, which method includes pulling the tapes apart at the desired location of a gap without separating the interengaged coils in order to expose the interengaged parts of the coils, and cutting the coils between the spreadapart adjacent edges of the tapes without cutting the tapes for a distance corresponding to the desired length of gap.

2. The method of producing a gap in slide fastener chain having tapes carrying along their adjacent longitudinal edges continuous coils attached by stitches to the tapes, said coils having coupling parts which are interengaged, which method includes pulling the tapes apart at the desired location of a gap without separating the interengaged coils in order to expose the interengaged parts of the coils, cutting the coils between the spread-apart adjacent edges of the tapes without cutting the tapes for a distance corresponding to the desired length of gap, and moving the severed coils in a direction away from the tapes to withdraw them from the stitches.

3. The method of producing a gap in slide fastener chain having tapes carrying along their adjacent longitudinal edges continuous plastic coils attached by stitches to the tapes, said coils having coupling par-ts which are interengaged, which method includes pulling the tapes apart at the desired location of a gap without separating the interengaged coils in order to expose the interengaged parts of the coils, cutting one side only of the coils between the spread-apart adjacent edges of the tapes without cutting the tapes for a distance corresponding to the desired length of gap, and pushing the severed coils in a direction away from the tapes to withdraw them from the stitches.

4. The method of producing a gap in slide fastener chain having tapes carrying along their adjacent longitudinal edges continuous plastic coils attached by stitches to the tapes, said coils having coupling par-ts which are interengaged, which method includes pulling the tapes apart at the desired location of a gap without separating the interengaged coils in order to expose a substantial part of the interengaged coils, cutting the lower side only of the coils between the spread-apart adjacent edges of the tapes without cutting the tapes for a distance corresponding to the desired length of gap, and pushing the severed coils in a direction away from the tapes to withdraw them from the stitches.

5. Apparatus for producing a gap in slide fastener chain having tapes carrying along their adjacent longitudinal edges continuous coils attached to the tapes, said coils having coupling par-ts which are interengaged, said apparatus comprising means to pull the tapes apart at the desired location of a gap without separating the interengaged coils in order to expose the interengaged parts of the coils between the spread-apart adjacent edges of the tapes, and means to cut the coils without cutting the tapes for a distance corresponding to the desired length of gap.

6. Apparatus for producing a gap in slide fastener chain having tapes carrying along their adjacent longitudinal edges continuous coils attached by stitches to the tapes, said coils having coupling parts which are interengaged, said apparatus comprising means to pull the tapes apart at the desired location of a gap without separating the interengaged coils in order to expose the interengaged parts of the coils between the spread-apart adjacent edges of the tapes, means to cut the coils without cutting the tapes for a distance corresponding to the desired length of gap, and means to move the severed coils in a direction away from the tapes to withdraw them from the stitches.

7. Apparatus for producing a gap in slide fastener chain having tapes carrying along their adjacent longitudinal edges continuous plastic coils attached by stitches to the tapes, said coils having coupling parts which are interengaged, said apparatus comprising means to pull the tapes apart at the desired location of a gap without separating the interengaged coils in order to expose the interengaged parts of the coils between the spread-apart adjacent edges of the tapes, means to cut one side only of the coils without cutting the tapes for a distance corresponding to the desired length of gap, and means to push the severed coils in a direction away from the tapes to withdraw them from the stitches.

8. Apparatus for producing a gap in slide fastener chain having tapes carrying along their adjacent longitudinal edges continuous plastic coils attached by stitches to the tapes, said coils having coupling parts which are interengaged, said apparatus comprising means to pull the tapes apart at the desired location of a gap without separating the interengaged coils in order to expose the interengaged parts of the coils between the spread-apart adjacent edges of the tapes, means to cut the lower side only of the coils without cutting the tapes for a distance corresponding to the desired length of gap, and means to push the severed coils in a direction away from the tapes to withdraw them from the stitches.

9. An upper and lower die assembly for producing a gap in slide fastener chain having tapes carrying along their adjacent longitudinal edges continuous plastic coils attached by stitches to the tapes, said c-oils having coupling parts which are interengaged, said upper die including a blade-shaped punch, said lower die including a vertically movable cutting anvil dimensioned to cooperate with the punch, a scrap pad vertically movable in the cutting anvil beneath the punch, means to pull the tapes apart relative to the coils and without separating the interengaged coils in order to expose the interengaged parts of the coils to the punch, means to yieldably support the scrap pad in the cutting anvil, means to yieldably support the cutting anvil in the stationary die, the latter yieldable means being much stiffer than the former, whereby the punch and cutting anvil first sever the coils between the spread-apart adjacent edges of the tapes without cutting the tapes, and thereafter continued bodily movement in unison with the punch and cutting anvil and scrap pad grips and pushes the severed coils in a direction away from the tapes to withdraw the coils from the stitches.

10. An upper and lower die assembly for producing a gap in slide fastener chain having tapes carrying along their adjacent longitudinal edges continuous plastic coils attached to the tapes, said coils having coupling parts which are interengaged, said upper die including a bladeshaped punch, said lower die including a cutting anvil dimensioned to cooperate with the punch, stationary tape supports having upright sides located outside the coils of the fastener and around the cutting anvil, said upright sides being narrow in transverse horizontal direction, said top pad having upright sides fitting outside the upright sides of the tape support with clearance less than and so related to the thickness of the tape that downward movement of the top pad drags the tapes downwardly between the tape support and the top pad to pull the tapes apart relative to the coils and without separating the interengaged coils in order to expose the interengaged parts of the coils to the punch, whereby the punch and cutting anvil sever the coils between the spread-apart adjacent edges of the tapes without cutting the tapes.

11. An upper and lower die assembly for producing a gap in slide fastener chain having tapes carrying along their adjacent longitudinal edges continuous plastic coils attached by stitches to the tapes, said coils having coupling parts which are interengaged, said upper die including a blade-shaped punch and a spring-loaded top pad around said punch, said lower die including a vertically movable cutting anvil dimensioned to cooperate with the punch, a scrap pad vertically movable for only a very limited distance in the cutting anvil beneath the punch, stationary tape supports having upright sides located outside the coils of the fastener and around the cutting anvil, said upright sides being narrow in transverse horizontal direction, said top pad having upright sides fitting outside the upright sides of the tape support with clearance less than and so related to the thickness of the tape that downward movement of the top pad drags the tapes downwardly between the tape support and the top pad to pull the tapes apart relative to the coils and without separating the interengaged coils in order to expose the interengaged parts of the coils to the punch, means to yieldably support the scrap pad in the cutting anvil, means to yieldably support the cutting anvil in the stationary die, the latter yieldable means being much stiffer than the former, whereby the punch and cutting anvil first sever the coils between the spread-apart adjacent edges of the tapes without cutting the tapes, and thereafter continued bodily movement in unison with the punch and cutting anvil and scrap pad grips and pushes the severed coils in a direction away from the tapes to withdraw the coils from the stitches.

12. An upper and lower die assembly for producing a gap in slide fastener chain having tapes carrying along their adjacent longitudinal edges continuous plastic coils attached by stitches to the tapes, said coils having coupling parts which are interengaged, said upper die including a blade-shaped punch and a spring-loaded top pad around said punch, said lower die including a vertically movable cutting anvil dimensioned to cooperate with the punch, a scrap pad vertically movable for only a very limited distance in the cutting anvil beneath the punch, stationary tape supports having upright sides located outside the coils of the fastener and around the cutting anvil, said upright sides being narrow in transverse horizontal direction, said top pad having upright sides fitting outside the upright sides of the tape support with clearance less than and so related to the thickness of the tape that downward movement of the top pad drags the tapes downwardly between the tape support and the top pad to pull the tapes apart relative to the coils and without separating the interengaged coils in order to expose the interengaged parts of the coils to the punch, means to yieldably support the scrap pad in the cutting anvil, means to yieldably support the cutting anvil in the stationary die, the latter yieldable means being much stifier than the former, whereby the punch and cutting anvil first sever the lower side only of the coils between the spread-apart adjacent edges of the tapes without cutting the tapes, and thereafter continued bodily movement in unison by the punch and cutting anvil and scrap pad grips and pushes the severed coils in a direction away from the tapes to withdraw the coils from the stitches, the subsequent upward return movement of the upper die serving to release the tapes and to raise the severed coils to starting position for movement out of the die with the chain when the chain is moved longitudinally to the location of the next desired gap.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,776,466 1/ 1957 Neitlich 29-33 3,128,543 4/1964 Fasciano 29408 3,129,498 4/ 1964 Runnels 29-200 WHITMORE A. WILTZ, Primary Examiner.

THOMAS H. EAGER, Examiner. 

1. THE METHOD OF PRODUCINMG A GAP IN SLIDE FASTENER CHAIN HAVING TAPES CARRYING ALONG THEIR ADJACENT LONGITUDINAL EDGES CONTINUOUS COILS ATTACHED TO THE TAPES, SAID COILS HAVING COUPLING PARTS WHICH ARE INTERENGAGED, WHICH METHOD INCLUDES PULLING THE TAPES APART AT THE DESIRED LOCATION OF A GAP WITHOUT SEPARATING THE INTERENGAGED COILS IN ORDER TO EXPOSE THE INTERENGAGED PARTS OF THE COILS, AND CUTTING THE COILS BETWEEN THE SPREADAPART ADJACENT EDGES OF THE TAPES WITHOUT CUTTING THE TAPES FOR A DISTANCE CORRESPONDING TO THE DESIRED LENGTH OF GAP.
 5. APPARATUS FOR PRODUCINMG A GAP IN SLIDE FASTENER CHAIN HAVING TAPES CARRYING ALONG THEIR ADJACENT LONGITUDINAL EDGES CONTINUOUS COILS ATTACHED TO THE TAPES, SAID COILS HAVING COUPLING PARTS WHICH ARE INTERENGAGED, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING MEANS TO PULL THE INTERENGAGED, SAID DESIRED LOCATION OF A GAP WITHOUT SEPARATING THE INTERENGAGED COILS IN ORDER TO EXPOSE THE INTERENGAGED PARTS OF THE COILS BETWEEN THE SPREAD-APART ADJACENT EDGES OF THE TAPES, AND MEANS TO CUT THE COILS WITHOUT CUTTING THE TAPES FOR A DISTANCE CORRESPONDING TO THE DESIRED LENGTH OF GAP. 